On
Wednesday, the European Parliament voted on a non-legislative
resolution which urges the EU to “respond
to information warfare by Russia,”
with RT and Sputnik news agency branded the most dangerous “tools”
of “hostile
propaganda.”

The
document shows “political
degradation”
regarding the “idea
of democracy”
in the West, Russian President Vladimir Putin responded, adding that
while “everyone
tries to lecture”
Russia on democracy, Europe wants to implement a policy of
restrictions.

Zakharova
branded the document as “paranoia”
and part of “the
ongoing demonization of Russia,”
adding that it is filled with “made-up
messages, myths,”
and reflects “the
ideology which has been cultivated towards Russia recently.”

“We
have repeatedly declared that no anti-European propaganda is carried
out from the Russian side. Russia is keen for the EU to be a united,
stable, and predictable partner, with which we could develop equal
and mutually beneficial cooperation,”
she said.

Philippe
Leruth, President of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) has
condemned the resolution saying that “harassment
and demonization” are
not the right way to “counter
so-called propaganda.”

“We
believe in ethical journalism, self-regulation, media pluralism and
media literacy to face it”,
Leruth said in statement released by the EFJ.

The
resolution fails to distinguish between political and terrorist
propaganda and creates confusion, Ricardo Gutierrez, General
Secretary of the EFJ also said.

“It
is irresponsible to equate Russian media organizations with terrorist
groups such as Islamic State. It is irresponsible to mix up Russian
media with Kremlin-controlled media,” Gutierrez
stressed, describing the tone of the document as“worrying” and
reminiscent of "the
Cold War climate.”

Gutierrez
noted that no one consulted the EFJ, the main journalists
organization in Europe, while drawing up the resolution and that the
EFJ “would
have been pleased to correct some of the inconsistencies and
inaccuracies of the text”.

“The
only ideology and religion for journalists is commitment to
professional and ethical standards,” said
Nadezhda Azhgikhina, also drawing parallels with Cold War times.

“We
all have to do our best to resist any attempt to restore Cold War
practices, which are the real threats for democracy and cooperation
in Europe,” she
said.

‘We are at war with Russia’: EU Parliament approves resolution to counter Russian media ‘propaganda’